Introduction element for a medical introduction device

Abstract

An implant introduction device designed to position a medical implant at a destination in a human or animal body. A sleeve extends in an axial direction has at least a first section and a second section opposite the first section in the axial direction. The two sections are connected with one another through a connection area around the sleeve in the peripheral direction. The first section is made of a first material and the second section is made of a second material, the first material having higher bending rigidity than the second material. The connection area defines a meandering course in the peripheral direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An implant introduction device, comprising: a sleeve that extends in an axial direction having at least a first section and a second section opposite the first section in the axial direction, the two sections being connected with one another through a connection area around the sleeve in the peripheral direction, the first section being made of a first material and the second section being made of a second material, the first material having higher bending rigidity than the second material, wherein the connection area has a meandering course in the peripheral direction. 
     
     
         2 . An introduction element according to  claim 1 , wherein the meandering course of the connection area is formed by mountain-shaped and valley-shaped sections of the connection area arranged in alternation in the peripheral direction. 
     
     
         3 . An implant introduction device according to  claim 2 , wherein a base of the respective mountain-shaped section is smaller than its height. 
     
     
         4 . An implant introduction device according to  claim 2 , wherein every mountain-shaped section is formed by two legs each, each pair of legs of the respective mountain-shaped section forming an angle in the range from 5° to 60°, 
     
     
         5 . An implant introduction device according to  claim 2 , wherein every mountain-shaped section is formed by two legs each, each pair of legs of the respective valley-shaped section forming an angle in the range from 1° to 60°. 
     
     
         6 . An implant introduction device according to  claim 2  wherein each of the valley-shaped and mountain-shaped sections is rectangular, trapezoidal, triangular, or has a continuous curvature. 
     
     
         7 . An implant introduction device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first material comprises a plastic selected from the group of a polyether block amide, a thermoplastic polyurethane, a thermoplastic elastomer, a polycarbonate-based thermoplastic polyurethane, and a polyether-based thermoplastic polyurethane. 
     
     
         8 . An implant introduction device according to  claim 7 , wherein the second material comprises a plastic selected from the group of a polyether block amide, a thermoplastic polyurethane, a thermoplastic elastomer, a polycarbonate-based thermoplastic polyurethane, and a polyether-based thermoplastic polyurethane. 
     
     
         9 . An implant introduction device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first material has a flexular modulus that lies in the range from 7 MPa to 650 MPa. 
     
     
         10 . An implant introduction device wherein the first section and the second section are connected together over the connection area by material bonding. 
     
     
         11 . The implant introduction device according to  claim 10 , wherein the material bonding comprises fusing of the two materials. 
     
     
         12 . The implant introduction device according to  claim 1 , wherein the implant introduction device comprises an inner shaft to carry an implant. 
     
     
         13 . The implant introduction device according to  claim 1 , wherein the implant introduction device comprises an outer shaft that surrounds an inner shaft that carries an implant. 
     
     
         14 . The implant introduction device according to  claim 1 , wherein the implant introduction device comprises a lock configured to introduce an outer shaft together with an inner shaft that carries an implant into a body lumen. 
     
     
         15 . The implant introduction device according to  claim 1 , wherein the implant introduction device comprises a stabilizer that serves to stabilize an outer shaft of the that surrounds an inner shaft that carries an implant. 
     
     
         16 . A production process for an implant introduction device comprising the following steps:
 providing at least a first and a second section of a sleeve, the first section being made of a first material and the second section being made of a second material, the first material having a higher bending rigidity than the second material, the first section having a face that defines a meandering course, and the second section having a face that defines a meandering course that is complementary to that of the first face so that the two faces can lie against one another in a form-fit manner;   arranging the two sections together in such a way that the two faces lie against one another in a form-fit manner; and   forming a connection between the two faces by material bonding so that the two sections are connected together into a single-piece sleeve.   
     
     
         17 . A process according to  claim 16 , wherein the material bonding comprises fusing the two faces.